Preparatory work has begun for the 49th Term Meeting of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, which will be held in Istanbul in 2027 under Türkiye's term presidency.
According to the statement made by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, President of the Turkish National Commission for UNESCO Prof. Dr. He met with M. Öcal Oğuz and discussed the preparations for the organization.
Ersoy, whose views were included in the statement, stated that the meeting to be hosted by Türkiye will make significant contributions to further strengthening international cooperation for the implementation of the World Heritage Convention and the development of new approaches to the protection of common heritage.
At the meeting, where the main topics of the preparation process, from organization to transportation, from communication activities to side events, were evaluated, Ersoy gave instructions for activities that will turn Türkiye's hosting into a strong promotional opportunity.
International press and promotional activities will come to the fore
Ersoy, who wanted the preparations for the meeting to start without delay, stated that the technical and operational processes of the organization should be carried out by professional teams experienced in this field, and pointed out that all elements of the preparations should be coordinated within the same structure.
Ersoy noted that the preparations for the organization will be completed in a professional manner by including the Turkish Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA) in the process.
Stating that the infrastructure needed for the meeting can be created, Ersoy requested that the conditions to be communicated from the UNESCO World Heritage Center be examined and the needs be clearly stated.
Minister Ersoy pointed out that the internet infrastructure and other technical works of the organization should be prepared and made operational by professional teams.
Making evaluations regarding the venue where the meeting will be held, Minister Ersoy stated that the required halls and meeting areas can be met with the existing facilities in Istanbul.
Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy drew attention to the importance of establishing direct and rapid communication with UNESCO teams and emphasized that the process should be carried out without any disruptions.
World press will be drawn to Istanbul
Minister Ersoy emphasized that the international interest generated by the World Heritage Committee Meeting should be strongly utilized for the promotion of Türkiye.
Ersoy, who wanted the international press's interest in the meeting to be used to explain Türkiye's cultural heritage to the world, stated that promotional activities regarding Türkiye should be carried out and contents that would attract the attention of the press should be created.
Emphasizing that the meeting should not be seen as just an organization, Ersoy asked for efforts to organize more special events where Türkiye's own cultural heritage and the work on the preservation and promotion of this heritage can be explained.
Cooperation will be made to avoid any disruptions.
Minister Ersoy touched upon the importance of completing the preparations early and stated that the work should be started without delay while the transportation and organization processes are handled.
Ersoy also touched upon the preparations regarding the transportation of the delegations that will attend the meeting and their mobility in Istanbul, and emphasized the importance of working in cooperation with institutions.
Preparations are planned to be carried out with a wide organizational structure.
Preparations for the 49th Term World Heritage Committee Meeting, which will be hosted by Istanbul in 2027, are planned to be carried out with a wide organizational structure.
Within the scope of the study prepared by the General Directorate of Cultural Heritage and Museums of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, it is envisaged that a consultation meeting will be held with the relevant institutions and a protocol regarding the distribution of duties will be signed after the agreement text and the Declaration of Requirements are submitted by the World Heritage Center.
It is planned that the task force to be formed for the preparations will include the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Turkish Tourism Promotion and Development Agency, as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Istanbul Governorship, Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, UNESCO Turkish National Commission and relevant administrations.
International broadcasting infrastructure will be created
One of the most important topics of the preparations is the determination of the congress center where the meeting will be held in line with the infrastructure and capacity conditions specified by the World Heritage Center.
In this context, it is also planned to design a web page appropriate to the scale of the international organization, to create a meeting registration and accreditation system and an international broadcasting infrastructure to broadcast the sessions live.
During the preparation process, it is envisaged that the obligations specified by the UNESCO World Heritage Center regarding security measures, waste management and environmental measures, emergency health and first aid services, accessibility and disabled access will be fulfilled.
Side events specific to World Heritage, which will be held parallel to the committee meeting, will also constitute one of the important pillars of the preparations.
It is envisaged that the side events will provide the opportunity for state parties, UNESCO, advisory bodies, non-governmental organizations, experts and other organizations to present their projects, share their experiences and promote their World Heritage-related initiatives.
Special issue for Turkey's World Heritage
Within the scope of the meeting, it is planned to prepare a special issue of UNESCO's World Heritage Magazine, which will also include a special section on Türkiye's areas registered on the World Heritage List, and to publish it in English, French and Turkish.
A highlighted world heritage site from Turkey is planned to be included in the World Heritage Map, which is planned to be published in English, French and Spanish and is one of the popular promotional materials of World Heritage.
The meeting will not consist only of committee sessions. In addition to the opening and closing ceremonies, the preparation program will also include various activities for the participants.
Within the scope of the meeting, the World Heritage Young Professionals Forum and the World Heritage Site Managers Forum are also planned to be organized.
